Design Review Guidelines

Decisions of the Historic Preservation Commission are founded upon the Design Review Guidelines. These guidelines focus on "preservation" rather than "complete restoration." The Guidelines provide property owners the necessary information about respectful rehabilitation and new construction within the district and they provide the HPC with uniform standards on which to base design review decisions.

The Design Review Guidelines serve two important purposes:

• To provide the Historic Preservation Commission with uniform standards on which to base design review decisions.
• To provide to property owners/applicants the necessary information about respectful rehabilitation and new construction within the historic district.

The guidelines are designed to assist decision-makers, property owners, developers, contractors, and commissioners—in developing design solutions for proposed changes within historic areas. The guidelines are intended to encourage orderly and compatible development and illustrate a sensitive approach to managing historic resources. The Design Review Guidelines provide the Commission with uniform standards on which to base design review decisions.

The design review process helps to ensure that our investment in a historic district will be protected: Protected from inappropriate new construction, misguided remodeling or demolition. Adherence to guidelines generally stabilizes or increases property values. Their emphasis is on maintaining architectural styles, details and streetscape elements that collectively make up the unique residential character in the district. For new construction, the emphasis is on the importance of relating new buildings and landscape elements to the existing historic streetscapes.

What the Guidelines DO:

• Respect the residential character of the district, reinforcing community identity and appearance.
• Preserve the architectural character of the building during the course of maintenance, renovation or rehabilitation.
• Ensure that new construction respects and is compatible with setback, spacing, scale, and other defining characteristics of existing buildings on the street.
• Avoid demolition by neglect.
• Preserve significant site features, such as; landscaping, trees, retaining walls, and outbuildings.
• Protect property owner investment by suggesting the best possible property rehabilitation techniques and mitigating development that may be detrimental to the overall appearance of the area.

What the Guidelines do NOT do:

• Affect the use of your property or its interior.
• Affect what color you paint your property as colors are not regulated.
• which may require a building permit or a Certificate of Appropriateness.
• Prohibit new construction or additions to historic buildings. Design review simply ensures that new construction and additions are completed as compatible as possible to the historic district.